Telescoping drapery processing machine

ABSTRACT

A low clearance machine for processing draperies has an upper rigid frame carrying an integral drapery support bar with its spaced apart legs reciprocally mounted in upright support posts on a base unit and a positive loop drive system in the base unit connected to the distal ends of said legs and a drapery pleater bar extending between the posts whereby the operation of the drive system will simultaneously move the frame and the pleater bar in opposite directions for quick efficient processing of draperies in the machine.

United States Patent [151 3,667,659 Clement 1 June 6, 1972 [54] TELESCOPING DRAPERY PROCESSING 3,439,438 4/1969 Tuskos ..223/30 x MACHINE 3,592,369 7/197: Hales ..223/32 [72] Inventor: Vernon D. Clement, P. O. Box 9922,

Sacramento, Calif. 95823 [22] Filed: May 17, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 143,905

[52] US. Cl 223/32, 156/585 [51] int. Cl. 41h 43/00, D06j 1/00, D06j 1/10 [58] Field of Search ..223/28-33; 156/585, 589, 590, 594596 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,010 1/1955 Reed ..223/33 X 3,279,661 10/1966 Kirche ..223/32 Primary Examiner-.Iordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Att0rney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips & Lempio [5 7] ABSTRACT A low clearance machine for processing draperies has an upper rigid frame carrying an integral drapery support bar with its spaced apart legs reciprocally mounted in upright support posts on a base unit and a positive loop drive system in the base unit connected to the distal ends of said legs and a drapery pleater bar extending between the posts whereby the operation of the drive system will simultaneously move the frame and the pleater bar in opposite directions for quick efficient processing of draperies in the machine.

1 1 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 10F 3 FIG 1 INVENTOR. VERNON D. CLEMENT ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 FIG. 3

I NVENTOR CLEMENT VERNON D.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEnJuu 5 I972 3. 667, 659

FIG 8 FIG 11 37m? ATTORNEYS TELESCOPING DRAPERY PROCESSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Due to the wide acceptance of draperies in commercial buildings and in homes in recent years, an increased number of draperies are being cleaned and processed in commercial establishments annually. As a direct result of the emphasis on this type of window coverings, the cleaning business has been introduced to a number of drapery processing machines, such as the processing machine disclosed in my copending patent application entitled Drapery Process Machine, Ser. No. 19,657, filed Mar. 16, 1970, designed to speed the processing of draperies when they are being cleaned. Other machines designed specifically for drapery processing are illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,279,661 issued to Kriche; US. Pat. No. 3,424,356 issued to Getchell et a.l.; U. S. Pat. No. 2,954,907 issued to Bird; and US. Pat. No. 2,699,010 issued to Reed.

Subsequent to the installation of draperies in commercial buildings and/or homes, it is often necessary to periodically have these draperies cleaned and/or dyed, depending on the particular environmental conditions and/or decor changes. Machines such as those referred to above are used to stretch, size, etc., draperies after they have been bulk cleaned so that the drapery will be returned, cleaned, pressed and sized to fit the window installation from which it was removed for cleanmg.

Most prior art drapery processing machines, of which the above group of machines are typical, employ a rigid rectangular frame having a height greater than the maximum length of the longest draperies which can be processed in the machine. With current day floor-to-ceiling draperies their height often exceeds 9 feet and makes these machines cumbersome in many buildings, because of low ceilings and door frames.

To accommodate loading of the draperies in such machines, the support bar is usually carried up and down along the rigid upright rectangular frame by a drive system. Similarly the pleater bar, i.e., the bar for holding the folds at the bottom end of a drapery, may be driven along the lower half of upright frame members in a manner similar to that of the drapery support bar from which a drapery is hung.

While such machines reduce the processing time of draperies they are cumbersome and often difficult to store when not in use because of their excessive height. Furthermore the long drive systems require to run the pleater bar and the drapery support bar along these long rigid tracks and often involve so much friction that power systems are desirable. Thus in many cases electric motors and counterbalances are employed of necessity.

By contrast it is an object of this invention to provide an improved drapery processing machine which telescopes its upper portion so that the machine height need only be extended to that necessary to accommodate a particular length of drapery and a high frame need not be incorporated in order to achieve maximum flexibility in the length of draperies which can be processed.

Another object of the current invention is the improved operator convenience in loading and unloading .the draperies in a drapery processing machine.

Still a further object is the provision of a new telescoping drapery processing machine which can be fabricated more economically without loss, convenience or operator comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects and other advantages are accomplished by a telescoping drapery processing machine comprising a base unit with two spaced apart upright vertical hollow support posts, said support posts having a longitudinal groove opening on their inner faces, a rigid telescoping frame carrying an integral drapery support bar and having spaced apart legs reciprocally received in the support posts, a drive system including two continuous positive drive loops, one of said loops oriented vertically in each of the support posts with a positive interconnecting mechanical timing couple between said loops and a drive means for operating said drive system, a drapery pleater bar extending between said vertical support posts having projecting means connecting it to said drive loops within the vertical support posts through the longitudinal slots therein, and attaching means connecting the respective distal ends of said legs reciprocally received in said post with said drive loops whereby the rigid frame and the pleater bar will be simultaneously moved in opposite directions when the drive means is operated facilitating quick, efficient processing of drapery materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of the new drapery processing machine, with broken lines indicating different positions of its principal moving parts;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the drive system exploded from the vertical support posts to show additional detail;

FIG. 3 is a section of the top of a vertical support post having the manual drive system showing the characteristics of the reciprocating member;

FIG. 4 is a section through the reciprocating members, similar to those shown in FIG. 3 but of the opposite side of the machine, (not having the manual drive);

FIG. 5 illustrates an elevation, with parts broken away, of a spring assist for balancing the weight of the frame to lessen the effort required to operate the drive system;

FIG. 6 is a broken away perspective of one side of the drive chain loop and the bracket for connecting it to the pleater bar through the vertical grooves in the support posts;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the top portion of the machine showing the pleater bar with the pleater combs, containing a plurality of interdigitating fingers, opened in a clamshell manner to facilitate loading draperies to be processed in the machine;

FIG. 8 is an elevation of the backside of the pleater bar illustrating the mechanism for locking the inner digitating fingers of the several combs;

FIG. 9 illustrates in perspective how the teeth of the interdigitating fingers of the several combs are locked with the lock mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective of the hanging system employed in the drapery support bar for holding the top folds of a drapery; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective of the parts of the hanging system referred to in FIG. 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT The overall appearance of the telescoping drapery processing machine 20 is best illustrated in FIG. 1 showing its major components which include a base unit 21 with two spaced apart vertical support posts 22 and 23 secured thereon, a rigid inverted U-shaped frame 24 having two depending legs 25 and 26 reciprocally received in support posts 22 and 23 respectively, a clamshell pleater bar 27 with interdigitating fingers on opposed combs suspended between the vertical support posts and a timed drive system (see FIG. 2) suspending the pleater bar between the posts and the frame within the posts whereby operation of the drive system will simultaneously move the frame and pleater bar in opposite directions.

More specifically the base unit 21 has two channel bars forming feet 30 and 31 of the machine which are separated by a spacer channel bar 32 which also forms a covered housing through which the timing shaft interconnects the several loops of the drive system (described hereafter). This spacer channel bar also forms the principal strength member of the base unit when welded to the feet at opposite ends thereof. The vertical support posts 22 and 23 are secured directly to feet 30 and 31 respectively, such as by welding and are formed of a box channel having a central groove 33 extending longitudinally along one of its faces (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and each box channel (post) is oriented on the foot before welding so that its groove is directly opposed to the groove on the opposite post.

Also supported on the base unit is a net unit 34 which includes spaced apart net bars 35 with an open mesh fabric net 36 stretched therebetween with the net bars supported from brackets 37 located at the outboard inside faces of feet 30 and 31 projecting up to form a support for the end of the bar directly adjacent thereto.

The inverted U-shaped frame 24 with its legs 25 and 26 reciprocally received in support posts 22 and 23, respectively, includes a drapery support bar 40 integrally formed with its crossbeam bar 41 which is bolted to the top end of the legs at its opposite ends (see FIG. to form the rigid U-shaped frame. A plurality of identical hanger units 42 compose part of the hanging system, each of which are slidably assembled on the crossbar. Each hanger unit has a finger member 43 which has a lock or keeper 44 pivoted on projecting or finger ends 43a with a shaped spring wire 45 employed to assemble the keeper on the finger end with a hairspring 46 so that the keeper will be pivoted thereon and driven by the spring in a direction so that its outward end will engage the back surface 43b of the next adjacent finger member. Since the spring wires 45 pass underneath their associated keepers 44, the latter can be articulated by the projecting end of the spring wires to lift their associated keeper off the back surface 43b of the next adjacent finger member 43. In this manner a drapery fold caught between the keeper end and the back surface of the next adjacent finger member can be released. To affect a common release of all the drapery folds held by multiple keepers across the drapery support bar, a sliding bar 47 is reciprocally mounted on the top of the crossbeam bar 41 which has projecting pins spaced along its edge to engage each projecting end of each wire spring member. A pivoted lever 49 is connected to the sliding bar with a drag link 50 and can be manipulated to release all keepers simultaneously, as would be desired when a drapery has been processed completely, banded and is ready for release from the machine. Additional details of the operation of the drapery support bar can be found in the above referenced copending application, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

As the drapery support bar 40 is an integral part of frame 24 it moves up and down with the frame when it is reciprocated by the drive system of the telescoping drapery processing machine, such as to position A illustrated by broken lines in F IG. 1.

As indicated, reciprocation of frame 24 is controlled by a positive drive system 60 best illustrated in FIG. 2 which includes two roller chain loops 61 disposed inside the vertical support posts 22 and 23 respectively. These loops have a longitudinal loop length approximately the same length as the posts, and the chain loops are maintained in a timed relationship through a cross-shaft 62 extending through the spacer channel bar 32, the latter forming a protective housing for this mechanism. The cross-shaft is journaled at the base of each post on a pillow block bearing 63 and has identical sprockets 64 keyed to each end. These sprockets are located in the central portion of their associated post and therefore keep their associated chain loop in the center of the channel formed in the interior of each post.

The top of each chain loop 61 is supported by a sprocket 65 located at the top of each post which is supported by a plate 66, face welded to the top of the respective posts, and a pillow block bearing 67 secured to the plate. A stubbed shaft 68 mounting is used for each sprocket in the pillow block bearing. Reference is made to FIG. 4 for this detail and it can be seen that the stub shafts extend through the grooves 33 in the respective posts so that the sprocket thereon is supported in the central portion in the top of each of the respective posts allowing them to be aligned with the sprocket in the base of their respective posts.

The support of the chain loop in post 23 is essentially similar to that described for post 22 except the face welded plate includes two pillow block bearings which are bolted on opposite faces thereof (see FIG. 3). A drive shaft 70 is employed in pillow block bearing 67 on this post and is keyed to sprocket 65 with its outwardly projecting end, keyed to a similar sprocket 71. A crankshaft 72 is mounted in he other pillow block bearing and has a hand crank 73 fixed to one end and a sprocket 74 keyed to its opposite end which is aligned with sprocket 71. A chain 75 interconnects these two sprockets so that turning the hand crank will cause the chain loops 61 to move in timed relationship, as previously indicated.

The legs 25 and 26 of frame 24 are channel shaped and due to the mounting arrangement of the chain loops in the central section of the vertical support posts can slide into their respective posts without interference of the loops. The legs are usually constructed of U-shaped channel members (as illustrated) and partially surround the chain loops when inserted into the vertical support posts. By connecting the respective distal ends of the legs to a common side of each loop with bolts or the like (as shown) the frame is raised and lowered with the support bar maintaining a parallel relationship with all former positions. Usually a flange at the distal end of each leg is merely bolted to the associated chain loop through the apertures of the chain which normally accept the teeth of the chain.

If desired a groove can be cut in the inboard end of each shaft carrying sprocket 65 at an eye plate 77 having a larger aperture slipped thereon and seated in the groove to which a spring 78 can have one of its ends connected. The opposite end of the spring can be connected to the distal end 79 of the associated leg in that support post so that it will partly balance the weight of the frame (see FIG. 5). One or two of the springs can be used since the spring employed on one side will not cause an unbalance due to the timed relationship of the drive mechanism.

The pleater bar 27 is mounted between the vertical support posts 22 and 23 and has its opposite end plates 80 and 81 connected to the chain loops 61 within their adjacent posts via spacers 82, bolts 83 and a bracket 84 which is coupled directly to each roller chain loop as illustrated in FIG. 6. The brackets allow the spacers 82 to be aligned with groove 33 in each support post and the spacer forms guides or glides with the groove for stabilizing the pleater bar.

The pleater bar is described in the aforesaid patent application and is briefly illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Basically it includes a rear channel member connected between its two end plates 80 and 81 to form a U-shaped box-like structure which has two parallel finger bars 91 and 92 mounted one over the other in a horizontal orientation on the channel member whereby each can reciprocate back and forth. Each finger bar has projecting fingers 93 at equally spaced intervals along its length and forms one comb of the pleater bar. Opposed fingers 94 are stationarily mounted in a folding bar 95 in two rows forming the other comb so that when the folding bar, which is pivoted on the end plates through arms 96, is swung toward the channel member in a clamshell-like motion, the fingers of the several bars will interdigitate as can be seen in FIG. 1. Thereafter the pleating lever 97 which is pivoted on the back of the channel member 90 can be operated to reciprocate finger bars 91 and 92 in opposite directions so that the interdigitated fingers of these bars will engage stationary fingers 94 as is illustrated in FIG. 9. Links 98 and 99 drive the finger bars through spring connections 101 and 102 forming spring loaded lost motion drive devices so that the fingers automatically adjust for the thickness of drapery materials between the rows of fingers. In this manner the drapery material is held on opposite sides of each pleat.

What is claimed is:

l. A telescoping drapery processing machine comprising:

a base unit having two spaced apart upright vertical hollow support posts, said support posts having a longitudinal groove opening on their opposed inner faces;

a rigid telescoping U-shaped frame having spaced apart legs reciprocally received in said spaced apart support posts, said rigid telescoping frame having a horizontally disposed drapery support bar operable to secure the top folds of a drapery therein;

a drapery pleater bar extending between said vertical support posts having means for gripping the lower pleats of a drapery, said drapery pleater bar having glide means received in said longitudinal grooves of said vertical support posts whereby said drapery support bar can be moved vertically in a level relationship in said grooves along said support posts;

drive means including a continuous belt-like loop within each hollow support post, a timing cross shaft means maintaining said loops in a timed relationship and a drive operable to cause said loops to move in timed relationship;

first connecting means attaching the distal end of said legs with said loops within their associated vertical support post; and

second connecting means attaching said glide means of said pleater bar with said loops within their associated vertical support posts whereby said support bar and said pleater bar will simultaneously move in opposite directions when said drive is operated.

2. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein a spring counterbalance means is connected between the top of at least one of said vertical support posts and the distal end of the leg of the rigid frame received therein operable to counterbalance the weight ofthe frame.

3. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical support posts are formed of hollow boxlike channel members and the legs of the rigid U-shaped frame are formed of U-shaped channel members whereby a space within a central portion of each of said vertical support posts for the drive means is available.

4. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 3 wherein a plate means is secured to the top of each support post and a bearing block mounted thereon supports a shaft projecting into the longitudinal groove thereof with a sheave mounted thereon to support the top of its continuous belt-like loop mounted in its support post.

5. The telescoping drapery support machine defined in claim 4 wherein the ends of the cross shaft extend into the longitudinal grooves at the base of each support post and have a sheave keyed to each end thereof whereby the belt-like loops in each support post can be connected between an associated sheave on said cross shaft and the sheave supported in the top of its associated support post.

6. The telescoping drapery machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the belt-like loops are roller chains and all the sheaves are chain sprockets.

7. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 6 wherein one of the sprockets in the top of one of the support posts includes an associated sprocket keyed to its shaft and a crank handle connected thereto whereby the drive system can be manually driven in either direction by manipulation of said crank handle.

8. The telescoping drapery processing machine defined in claim 1 wherein the drapery support bar includes a plurality of locking clip means in aligned spaced relationship oriented to increase their gripping pressure as the folds of a drapery inserted thereunder are pulled downwardly.

9. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 8 wherein the locking clip means include independent releases and a common release means whereby one or all of the folds secured by the support bar can be freed.

10. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein the means for gripping the lower folds of a drapery include a comb of stationary fingers interdigitated between two parallel combs of fingers and shifting means connected to said two combs operable to shift them in opposite directions to engage the fingers of the stationary comb whereby pleats of a drapery are gripped on both sides of each pleat.

l l. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein biasing lost-motion means are included in the connections of the shifting means and the parallel rows of combs whereby automatic compensations of the gripping pressures are achieved. 

1. A telescoping drapery processing machine comprising: a base unit having two spaced apart upright vertical hollow support posts, said support posts having a longitudinal groove opening on their opposed inner faces; a rigid telescoping U-shaped frame having spaced apart legs reciprocally received in said spaced apart support posts, said rigid telescoping frame having a horizontally disposed drapery support bar operable to secure the top folds of a drapery therein; a drapery pleater bar extending between said vertical support posts having means for gripping the lower pleats of a drapery, said drapery pleater bar having glide means received in said longitudinal grooves of said vertical support posts whereby said drapery support bar can be moved vertically in a level relationship in said grooves along said support posts; drive means including a continuous belt-like loop within each hollow support post, a timing cross shaft means maintaining said loops in a timed relationship and a drive operable to cause said loops to move in timed relationship; first connecting means attaching the distal end of said legs with said loops within their associated vertical support post; and second connecting means attaching said glide means of said pleater bar with said loops within their associated vertical support posts whereby said support bar and said pleater bar will simultaneously move in opposite directions when said drive is operated.
 2. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein a spring counterbalance means is connected between the top of at least one of said vertical support posts and the distal end of the leg of the rigid frame received therein operable to counterbalance the weight of the frame.
 3. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical support posts are formed of hollow box-like channel members and the legs of the rigid U-shaped frame are formed of U-shaped channel members whereby a space within a central portion of each of said vertical support posts for the drive means is available.
 4. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 3 wherein a plate means is secured to the top of each support post and a bearing block mounted thereon supports a shaft projecting into the longitudinal groove thereof with a sheave mounted thereon to support the top of its continuous belt-like loop mounted in its support post.
 5. The telescoping drapery support machine defined in claim 4 wherein the ends of the cross shaft extend into the longitudinal grooves at the base of each support post and have a sheave keyed to each end thereof whereby the belt-like loops in each support post can be connected between an associated sheave on said cross shaft and the sheave supported in the top of its associated support post.
 6. The telescoping drapery machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the belt-like loops are roller chains and all the sheaves are chain sprockEts.
 7. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 6 wherein one of the sprockets in the top of one of the support posts includes an associated sprocket keyed to its shaft and a crank handle connected thereto whereby the drive system can be manually driven in either direction by manipulation of said crank handle.
 8. The telescoping drapery processing machine defined in claim 1 wherein the drapery support bar includes a plurality of locking clip means in aligned spaced relationship oriented to increase their gripping pressure as the folds of a drapery inserted thereunder are pulled downwardly.
 9. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 8 wherein the locking clip means include independent releases and a common release means whereby one or all of the folds secured by the support bar can be freed.
 10. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein the means for gripping the lower folds of a drapery include a comb of stationary fingers interdigitated between two parallel combs of fingers and shifting means connected to said two combs operable to shift them in opposite directions to engage the fingers of the stationary comb whereby pleats of a drapery are gripped on both sides of each pleat.
 11. The telescoping drapery machine defined in claim 1 wherein biasing lost-motion means are included in the connections of the shifting means and the parallel rows of combs whereby automatic compensations of the gripping pressures are achieved. 